Stowable seat and seat storage structure

Abstract

The present invention discloses a stowable seat and seat storage structure that affords for storing of the stowable seat in a vehicle and yet not use or occupy any floor or sub-floor cargo space. An interior side wall for the vehicle is also provided, the interior side wall having a recess that is dimensioned for the stowable seat to fit at least partially therewithin when it is detached from the floor and folded into a stowed configuration.

1. A stowable seat and seat storage structure for storing the stowable seat in a vehicle and not using floor or sub-floor cargo space, the stowable seat and seat storage structure comprising:
 a stowable seat having a seating configuration with said stowable seat attached to a floor in the vehicle and a stowed configuration with said stowable seat unattached from the floor, said stowable seat also having a floor mounting structure operable to attach and detach said stowable seat from the floor in the vehicle; 
 an interior side wall of the vehicle, the interior side wall having a recess with an inner wall, a lower wall, and an outer wall dimensioned for said stowable seat to fit at least partially within said recess and snugly up against said inner wall, lower wall and outer wall when in said stowed configuration, for the purpose of storing and preventing rattling of said stowable seat in said recess of said interior side wall and not occupy any floor or sub-floor cargo space of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       2. The stowable vehicle seat and storage structure of  claim 1 , wherein said stowable seat has a seat base and a seat back, said seat base and said seat back oriented at a generally right angle to each other when said stowable seat is in said seating configuration and said seat base and said seat back oriented generally parallel to each other when said stowable seat is in said stowed configuration. 
     
     
       3. The stowable vehicle seat and storage structure of  claim 1 , wherein said stowable seat is a rearward seat of the vehicle. 
     
     
       4. The stowable vehicle seat and storage structure of  claim 3 , wherein said stowable seat is a second row seat of the vehicle. 
     
     
       5. The stowable vehicle seat and storage structure of  claim 4 , wherein said second row seat is a second row center seat of a motor vehicle. 
     
     
       6. The stowable vehicle seat and storage structure of  claim 1 , wherein said interior side wall is an interior trim panel of the vehicle. 
     
     
       7. The stowable vehicle seat and storage structure of  claim 6 , wherein said interior trim panel is an interior rear quarter trim panel. 
     
     
       8. The stowable vehicle seat and storage structure of  claim 1 , wherein said recess has an opening facing an interior of the vehicle. 
     
     
       9. The stowable vehicle seat and storage structure of  claim 8 , wherein said inner wall has a contour shape that is complementary to said stowable seat in said stowed configuration. 
     
     
       10. The stowable vehicle seat and storage structure of  claim 7 , further comprising a storage attachment member operable to hold said stowable seat in said stored position. 
     
     
       11. The stowable vehicle seat and storage structure of  claim 10 , wherein said storage attachment member is a strap attached to said quarter trim panel. 
     
     
       12. The stowable vehicle seat and storage structure of  claim 11 , wherein said strap extends across said recess and holds said stowable seat in said stored position. 
     
     
       13. The stowable vehicle seat and storage structure of  claim 11 , wherein said strap is fixedly attached to said quarter trim panel. 
     
     
       14. A process for storing a stowable seat in a vehicle so as not to occupy any floor or sub-floor cargo space, the process comprising:
 providing a stowable seat having a seating configuration with the stowable seat attached to a floor in the vehicle and a stowed configuration with the stowable seat unattached from the floor, the stowable seat also having a floor mounting structure operable to attach and detach the stowable seat from the floor; 
 providing an interior side wall with a recess having an inner wall, a lower wall, and an outer wall dimensioned for the stowable seat to fit snuggly and at least partially within the recess and thereby prevent rattling of the stowable seat when in the stowed configuration; 
 detaching the stowable seat from the floor; 
 folding the stowable seat into the stowed configuration; and 
 placing the stowable seat in the stowed configuration at least partially within the recess of the interior side wall in a stored position, for the purpose of storing the stowable seat without rattling thereof and not occupy any floor or sub-floor cargo space. 
 
     
     
       15. The process of  claim 14 , wherein the stowable seat has a seat base and a seat back, the seat base and the seat back oriented generally at a right angle to each other when the stowable seat is in the seating configuration and the seat base and the seat back oriented generally parallel to each other when the stowable seat is in the stowed configuration. 
     
     
       16. The process of  claim 14 , wherein the interior side wall of the vehicle is an interior rear quarter trim panel of the vehicle. 
     
     
       17. The process of  claim 14 , further including strapping the stowable seat at least partially within the recess with a strap.